America: Promised Land

Storyline

America's population is often referred to as a melting pot, referencing the many different countries to which Americans' ancestry can be traced back. This two-part program chronicles the immigration patterns of ethnic groups as they entered the United States. The program examines the country's history, telling stories of such events as Germans aiding the Union Army during the Civil War and the westward migration of African-Americans after the building of the Transcontinental Railroad reduced coast-to-coast travel time from six months to one week. The documentary includes interviews with descendants of the people whose stories are told and geographical imagery that showcases the history of how America was populated.